Need to throw a party but don't want the usual boring get-together? Get everybody talking by throwing a fancy dress costume party!

Wearing fancy dress costumes is a great icebreaker and an easy way to start a conversation at a party. Guests tap their creative sides to wear clothes that they would never wear otherwise.

This kind of costume party is quite common during Halloween. It serves as an alternative to trick-or-treating for both adults and teenagers. Christmas is another time when costume parties are commonly held. However, you don't have to wait for a holiday to host your own fancy dress costume party. You can do it any day, for any reason!

Although it isn't necessary, most people who decide to host this kind of costume party choose a theme. This helps your guests have a better idea of what to wear to the gathering. You can choose any theme you want, with some of the more common themes being movies, sports, disco, Hollywood stars and cartoon characters, to name a few. You can also hold best costume contests to make sure that everyone will be wearing great-looking costumes.

If you're hosting this kind of costume party, remember to mail your invitations several weeks in advance. Three weeks ahead is an acceptable time, so that your guests will have enough time to find good fancy dress costumes for adults. Don't forget to indicate the theme of the party on the invite. An even better idea is to make invitations that go with the theme; for example, if you're hosting a costume party with a TV show theme, get the invitation to be shaped in the form of a television. Your guests will appreciate the effort you have put in and will more likely attend your event.

Of course, you can't host a fancy dress costume party without a costume yourself. There are many places where you can buy or rent fancy dress costumes for adults. You can find a variety of fancy costumes at a costume store here in your area. You'll probably be able to find several good ones at the local department store or mall, as well. If you're simply too busy to go out, you can find a number of online stores selling fancy dress costumes for adults. These websites specializing in fancy dress outfits allow you to browse through different categories and themes. With just the click of a button, you can order a decent fancy dress costume, and get it delivered right to your doorstep. When dressing up for your costume party, make sure you have the perfect accessories to go along with your costume. Choose the right wig, beard, mask or any other accessory that you may need. Also, don't forget to put on the right make-up or face paint to complete your costume!

At the party itself, make sure that the decorations are set and that good music is playing, preferably related to your theme. It might be a good idea to ask your guests to confirm whether they can attend or not, so that you know how much food and drinks to serve. You can also hold different party games, to make sure that everyone interacts with each other and has a good time.